Mosman Municipal Council

Environment

• Environmental management
• CEC
• Trees
• Bushland and Biodiversity
• Pests and Weeds
• Gardening
• Coastal and Marine
• Water Management
• Ecologically Sustainable Living
• Atmospheric Environment
• Food Safety
• Public Health
• Noise
  • Barking dogs
  • Licensed Premises
  • Air conditioners
  • Intruder alarms
  • Tools and Pumps
  • Other Noise
  • Legislation

Noise from Air Conditioners

Domestic air conditioners manufactured on or after 1 March 1986 must have a noise label securely attached in a conspicuous position displaying the sound power level. It is against the law to sell a domestic air conditioner without an affixed noise label.

Air Conditioner Noise and the Law

Under the provisions of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulations 2000 a person must not cause or permit an air conditioner to be used on residential premises if noise is audible within a habitable room of any other residential premises regardless of whether any door or window to that room is open:

• before 8am or after 10pm on any Saturday, Sunday or public holiday
• before 7am or after 10pm on any other day

Penalties can be imposed for a breach of these regulations for corporations or individuals. Alternatively, Council officers can issue ‘on the spot’ fines to persons who don’t comply.

Reporting noise from Air Conditioners

Before contacting Council you should attempt to bring your complaint to the attention of the owner of the air conditioner. They may not even know that noise from the use of the air conditioner is causing you a problem.

If offensive noise is being caused by the operation of an air conditioner, please lodge your complaint in writing. Complaints must detail your name and address, the address where the air conditioner is installed, and the times when the operation of the air conditioner is causing offensive noise. Complainant’s details are kept confidential.